Display and delivery stand



Nov. 6, 1956 G. A. JUST DISPLAY AND DELIVERY STAND 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 26, 1953 /fI/ 1 I /1 1/1/ INVENTOR. GEORGE ,4. JUST ,4 TTORNEY FHE.

G. A. JUST DISPLAY AND DELIVERY STAND Nov. 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26, 1953 JNVENTOR.

' GEORGE 14. JUST ATTO/?NEY United States Patejnt 'O DISPLAY AND DELIVERY STAND George A. Just, Scarsdale, N. Y., assignor to The Grand Union Company, East Paterson, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application January 26, 1953, Serial No. 333,()37

3 Claims. (CI. 211-49) This invention relates to display and delivery stands for use in self service stores and elsewhere, and is directed particularly to constructons in which shelves on which articles are displayed are arranged in inclined positions so as to deliver articles by gravity and one after another to the front of the stand as the foremost article is removed from each shelf by a Customer or clerk.

Constructions of this general type which have proven successful heretofore have been open for access at the rear and the shelves have been loaded with merchandise by clerks stationed behind the stand. However, when the stand is located directly adjacent a wall, or two stands are positioned directly in back to back engagement in the center of a store, it is dicult and sometimes impossible to charge the stands with merchandise from the rear. On the other hand, it is almost equally difficult to load shelves with merchandise from the front of the stand When the shelves are arranged in fixed positions and inclined at a sufficient angle to insure ready movement of the articles by gravity toward the front of the stand. In such constructions 'it is necessary to push any articles remaining on a shelf rearwardly up the inclined shelf and to hold them back while inserting fresh articles in front of those remaining on the shelf. Such operations are not only slow and troublesome, but they allow the rearmost articles to remain on the shelf for days or even weeks so that they become stale or shop worn and may never be removed until the shelf is completely emptied.

In accordance with the present invention these objections or limitations to prior display and delivery stands are overcome by providing a novel ?type of Construction in which inclined shelves are provided with means which permit each shelf to be moved forward to a loading position which permits a new supply of articles to be added at the rear of those remaining on the shelf. The shelf when fully loaded is then returned to a display and delivery position so that all of the advantages of rear loading and a continuously renewed supply of articles are attained even though the stand is not accessible from the back. The shelves are preferably locked in place While in their display and delivery position but are releasable at will to permit forward movement thereof to an extended position for loading, cleaning, inspection or for any other purpose.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel type of display and delivery stand in which there are shelves which are movable from inclined display positions to extended positions providing ready access for loading the shelves with merchandise from the front of the stand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display and delivery stand with novel means for holding and moving the shelves thereof.

A further object of the invention is to simplify the operation of loading a display and delivery stand having inclined shelves. i A 'specific object of the invention is to provide disice play and delivery stands which are accessible only from the front with means for affording a continuously renewed supply of articles in positionfor ready removal by customers or clerks at the front of the stand.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will appear from the following description thereof in which reference is made to the accompanying drawing for the purpose of indicating the nature of the invention but without intending to limit the invention to the particular constructions shown and described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a typical display and delivery stand wherein one of the shelves is extended to a loading position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the stand illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective showing a typical carriage and shelf supporting track embodied in the constructionof Fig. 1 with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of adjacent portions of tracks and carriages in assembled relation; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a detail of the construction shown in Fig. 4.

In that form of the invention chosen for purposes of illustration in the drawings, the display and delivery stand has a rear support 2, which is shown as being vertical, and a front support 4, which is shown as being inclined rearwardly. If desired, the rear of the stand may be closed at the back as shown at 6 although it will be evident that such a closure is not necessary.

The supports 2 and 4 may be of any preferred construction but as shown in the drawings they are Secured together by base members 8 and upper members 10. The shelves indicated generally at 12 are arranged in inclined positions and project progressively farther forward from the top -to the bottom of the stand so that the front portion of each shelf is readily accessible to persons in front of the stand for removal of articles from the shelves. Each shelf slopes from the rear toward the front of the stand at an angle sutficient to cause articles thereon to move forward by gravity on the tracks or other article supporting surface of the shelf on removal of an article rom the front of the shelf. In this way, the supply of articles to the front of the shelves for ready removal by customers or clerks is continuously and automatically maintained as long as' any articles remain on the shelves In accordance with the present invention the shelves are each movable from a retracted display and delivery position 'to an extended loading position so that fresh articles can be placed on the shelves at the rear of those remaining thereon and the supply may be renewed easily and at any time or as often as required by persons working in front of the stand. In the preferred form of the invention illustrated, each shelf embodies a carn'age 14 formed with opposite side members 18 and 20 which are connected at their front ends by the tag supporting member 22 and at their rear ends by the connecting member 24. The member 22 has a rearwardly projecting flange 26 while the connecting member 24 has a forwardly projectng flange 28.

Any suitable form of article supporting means 16 may be mounted on the flanges 26 and 28 of the carriageand the articles are preferably arranged in 'rows extending from the front to the rear of 'the shelf for 'automatic delivery by gravity one after another to the front of the shelf. In the preferred Construction llustrated the article supporting means 16 consist of pairs of tracks of the type shown and described in applicant's co-pending application Serial No. 222,042 filed April 20, 1951. When using such tracks the opposite ends of the tracks are supported on the fianges 26 and 28, and when desired or' necessary, one or more intermediate'supports for the tracks are protween flie carriage side members 18 and 20. The tracks are easily movable transversely of the carriage along flanges 26 and 28 to fill'the carriage With tracks a d they may e individal ly removed forcleaning, adjust ment' or placement bn another carriage; However, any 'other-suitable form' of shelf fo-ming means may be mounted on the carriages14 if`desired.` i I V The side members 18 and of the carriages 14 are ,each provided ne'artheir rear end with a roller 32 monnted the slot 70 to hold the carriage in vided illustrated bythe 'cross brace extending'bei 'In order 'to 'release `the'"`latc`h' so ;ina wheel bracket '34 and projecting through a slot 36 in the outwardly and downwardly eitending wheel housing 38 extendingalong'the upper edge of the side portion V40`of 'the side members 18 and 211 The members 18 and 20, of course, `face in opposite directionsso that the rollers are located on the outer sids at the rear of each carriage.

The rollers 32 on the carriage 14 are arrangedto eni gage and roll along carriage supporting tracks'42 mounted upon the supports 2 and 4 of the stand. The tracks 42 may be Secured in place on the supports 2 'and 4 by any suitable means but as shown each track is provided With ta front hanger 44 and a rear hanger 46 engageable by clamping members 48 secured to the supports 2 and 4. i The clamping members each have a slotted body portion 50 formed to enbrace one of the 'side flanges 52 of the channel members which constitute the supports 2 and 4.

-A set screw 54 extending from one endof the body portion of the clamp engages fiange 52-to secure the clampi ing' member in a selected position' on the support, Whereas a track supporting bolt 56 extends from the other end of the body of the clamp to'engage one' of'the track hangers 44 and 46. The clamps can be positioned at any desired points `along the supports 2 and '4 to hold 'the tracks 42 in place and the slot 58 in the rear hanger 46 allows for variation in the angle of inclination of the tracks and for difierencesin the spacing' of supports 2 'and 4'at dilferent elevations in the stand.

Each track 42 is formed with an inwardly projecting lower fiange 43 engageable by the roller '32 'on the carriage andis also-provided at its forward end with a U-shaped roller bracket 60 in which a roller 62 is mounted. The .rollers 62 on the tracks 42 are designed to engage :the lower surfaces of the housing portions 33 of the side members'18 ,and 20' of the 'shelf carriages,

'whereas the rollers 32 on the side member of the shclf 'carriages are designed to roll along the tracks 42. In 'this way, each 'sh'elf carriage .is movable 'on the rollers 32 and 62 ,so `thatthe shelves may slide smoothly forward and rearwar'd along 'the stationary tracks 42 moi nted in' inclned positions on the supports 2 andt4.

its retracted display and delivery position. that the carriage and shelfmay be movedforward to an extended, loading position," the latch 72 is provided with i a finger piece 78 which projects outward to a convenient' position so it may be raised by thetoperator to withdraw the latch from the slotthe'l atch plate 68. A lug 79 is struck outward from the body of thelatch 72 and extends through-the opening 80 in the latch housing-82 'on the roller bracket 60 on the track 42. The shelf is then Forward movement of the shelfcarriage is' limited by r engagement of the stop .lugs 64 on the side members 18 and 2.0 of the carriage with the inner end of theroller brackets 60 near the forward ends of the'tracks 42. Tilting of the carriagewhen extended is prevented by "engag'ement of the roller 32 on'the carriage with the V .upper tinwardlyi extending flange -66 on track 42 projecting above roller `32 as shown in Fig. 4. r

The shelves are normally held in the retracted display i V and deliveryt positon by suitable lathQmeans In` the, i r constructionshown in Fig. 3 the track'42 is provided with e retaining meansin the form of a laterally extending latch r A i One, or if desired ;both :ofthe side members 18 and 20 of each shelf' carriage islprovided with acooperating latch member 72 having -an inclined face 74-engageable with the frontedge of the platei68 havjngja slot 70 therein.

in the extended loading position shown in Fig. l and indicatedin dotted lines in Fig( 2. When in theextended position, a -clerk at the front ofthe stand may easily ari range* the articles to be displayed upon'the article ?supporting and guiding tracks 16 mountedron the carriage.

The fresh articles may 'simply be placed in the vacant space at the rear of any articles remaining 'on the shelves without' even disturbing the articles left on the' shelves. ,i The remaining articles willtherefore be in front of 'the new supply for earlier removal and none of the old supply `will remain indefinitely on the shelves as is'inev'itabl'e when fixed shelves are employed. In the'alternative the tracks 16, whether loaded with articles or entirely empty,

may be cha n'ged in position or removed as des i'ed for cleaning, replacement, inspectiomadjustment or: repair.

When 'the tracks on the extended carriage have been V suitably loaded with merchandie the carriage is merely pushed back toits retracted display and delivery position whereupon the latch 72 Willride up over the latch plate& i 68 and then drop into -slot 7@ whereby the carriagewill i i be held in itsre'tracted, display and delivery position in i a fully loaded condition. customers or clerks in front of the stand may then remove the foremost or other available articles from the tracks on which they are supported.

The remaining articles in a higher ;position on the track will then slide forward sot as to renew the supply of articles displayed to the customers. This confirmed renewal of the supply of articles is accomplished even though the stand may be fnlly closed at therear since both the load ing and the removal of the merchandise is effected' from the front of the stand. i

` When releasing the carriage bers 18 and` '2G of the carriage will bearlagain'st rollers 62 on the t'acks 42. e The uppenflange 66 on track 42' ed vfrom tilting as it moves forward and .it will accordinglatch plate 68` on haac 42 so as to be raised when y r011 a ily to and from its extended position even when heavily loaded with merchandise. r t

a Whenit is desired to remove the carriage from. the

tracks 42 the front end of the carriage is simplyaised whereby 'the stop lugs 64 on the side members ofthed v carriage are lift ed above the roller bracket 60. The roller i 32 can then move for'warduntlit clears the'cutback end V g 104 on the inwardly extending top flange iof thetrack i jwhereupon the carriage may bie lifted 'off the trackgentifrely( V r V The carriage may be appliedto the ttracks byth verse Operations of insertng the rollers 32 beneath flange j; w 66 while holding the frontei'd of the carriage eleva ted. It is 'then lowered into alig'nmenfiwiththei track andif' slid black toits refl-acted and latching position;

While the particular forms of tracks, carriages, rollers and latch means. shown in th 'e drawings and' described ;r 77 i r above have been found in practice'to be ver-y 'satsfactOry easy to use, it willbe -evid entthat each-of; thesej eler and allowing it torollforward, the rollers 32 .at the rear of the carriage will bear; V against the lower inwardly extending'flange 43: on' the, tracks 42 whiletthe housing portions'38 -Ofthe sidemem w j ments may 'oe changed considerably in form, Construction and arrangement. The type of article supporting means forming the shelf for each carriage also may be varied as desired for any particular installation. in View thereof it should be understood that the particular emboditnent of the invention shown and described is intended to be illustrative only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A display and delivery stand comprising supports, a plurality of vertically spaced shelves mountcd on said supports and arranged one above another in inclined positions sloping from the rear to the front of the stand at an angle sufiicient to cause articles placed on the shelves to move forward by gravity on removal of articles from the front of the shelves, each shelf including a carriage in the form of a frame, parailel article supporting and guiding means mounted on said frame and extending from the front to the rear thereof for guiding articles in their movement on said shelves under the action of gravity, tracks mounted on the supports along which said carriage is movable from a retracted display and delivery position to an extended loading position, cooperating means on said supports and tracks adjustable to vary the angular nclination of said tracks and shelves with respect to said supports, and manually operable latch means releasably retaining said carriage in said retracted position, said latch means being nounted on the carriage near the front thereof and in position to be operated by a person graspng the front of the carriage and controlling its forward movement on release of the latch means.

2. A display and delivery stand comprising front and reat supports, a plurality of shelves arranged one above another and in inclined positions With respect to said supports, a pair of tracks for each shelf, each track having a front and rear hanger attached thereto, adjustable means engaging said hangers and said supports and serving to hold said tracks in independently adjusted positions inclined from the front to the rear of the stand, a carriage on each shelf slidably movable along said tracks and With respect to said supports from a retracted display delivery position to anextended loading position, the front of each carriage having a horizontally extending rearwardly extending fiange thereon and rear each carriage having a horizontally extending forwardiy projecting flange thereon, article supporting and guiding means having their opposite ends restng upon said fianges and serving to hold articles on said shelves in such position that the articles tend to move in a controlled manner from the rear to the front of said shelves under the action of gravity, and cooperating latch means on said carriage and tracks engageable to hold said carriage in said retracted display and delivery position but movable to release said carriage for movement to said eXtended loading position.

3. A display and delivery stand comprising front and rear supports, a plurality of shelves arranged one above another and in inclined positions With respect to said supports, a pair of tracl-:s for each shelf, each track having a front and rear hanger attached thereto, adjustable means engaging said hangers and said supports and serving to hold said tracks in independently adjusted positions inclined from the front to the rear of the stand, a carriage on each shelf slidably movable along said tracl s and With respect to said supports from a retracted display and delivery position to an extended loading position, the front of each carriage havin a horizontally extending rearwardly extending fiange thereon and the rear of each carriage having a horizontally extending forwardly projecting fiange thereon, article supporting and guiding means having their opposite ends resting upon said anges and serving to hold articles on said shelves in such position that the articles tend to move in a controlled manner from the rear to the front of said shelves under the action of gravity, and cooperatng iatch means on said carriage and tracks engageable to hold said carriage in said retracted display and delivery position, said latch means being manually operable and mounted on the carriage near the front thereof and in position to be operated by a person grasping the front of the carriage to control its forward movement on release of the latch means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS l07,753 Belding Sept. 27, 1870 453397 Homan June 2, 1891 1306332 Bales et al. May 2, 1933 2,233,796 Pines Mar. 4, 1941 2,247,02O Hilchman June 24, 1941 2,513,595 Stewart July 4, 1950 2,620,25l Restivo Dec. 2, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 225355 Germany Sept. 9, 1910 

